Ultimate LU, a campaign which provides students with a variety of recreational activities, will open a deep blue world of discovery for Liberty students as a two-week course in scuba diving will be made available at the LaHaye Student Union pool.

J.D. Emerson, a certified diving instructor, will train participants in four indoor and two open-water sessions before their rigorous evaluation by written tests and an open-water examination in Blanch, N.C. Aspiring divers from both Liberty as well as the general public are invited to enroll in the program.

Emerson visited Liberty’s facilities a few times, and says that the LaHaye aquatic center is an excellent place to teach the course, according to the Liberty Journal.

“The temperature of the water is maintained great, the depth is excellent and there is plenty of room to maneuver,” Emerson told the Liberty Journal.

Students taking the course are required to provide their own diving mask, snorkel, boots and fins for each session, and Emerson will supply all other equipment needed for the program including oxygen tanks, regulators and wetsuits. Enrollees may purchase their supplies from Emerson at a discounted price.

Emerson has nearly 40 years of diving experience and instructs numerous courses, such as underwater crime scene investigation and search and rescue. He owns and operates BCXtreme Sports in Danville, Va.

The course will take place on Jan. 13, 15, 20 and 22 from 3-7 p.m. in the LaHaye Center. Open-water sessions are scheduled to commence on Jan. 24 at 1 p.m. in Blanch, N.C. and conclude on Jan. 25 at approximately 5 p.m.

Liberty hopes that adding scuba diving to the lineup for Ultimate LU will provide students will a well-rounded education by providing a plethora of recreational activities. In the near future, Liberty hopes to extend the course, thus allowing students to earn academic credit for it, according to the Liberty Journal.

To register for the two-week course, enquire at the LaHaye Student Union front desk. Ten spots are currently available. The course costs $450 and a $50 deposit is required up front, which is deducted from the total cost. For more information, contact Josh Goodman at jfgoodman@liberty.edu or call (434) 592-3281.